Potato plants have flowers, leaves, stems and tubers. Tubers are part of the underground stem system of the plant that is used for food storage. The part of the potato plant that we eat are the tubers, also known as potatoes.
Potatoes can be grown from potato seeds or "seed pieces." The seed pieces are made from specially-grown potatoes by cutting the potato into pieces with "eyes."
About 21 days after planting the seed pieces, potato plants begin to grow above the ground. Three weeks later, small tubers begin to take shape underground. Potato plants can grow about three feet high with each plant producing between three to twelve tubers.
Potato plants are very sensitive to extreme hot and cold temperatures, and need water and nutrients to grow. Modern computerized irrigation systems use sensors that are placed throughout the field to measure the plant's needs.
Then, large sprinkler systems move through the potato field to feed the plants. The sprinkler systems can travel long distances and feed about 120 acres of potato plants.
Tubers are ready for harvest about 100-140 days after planting. Tractors move through rows of potato fields digging up potatoes that are about 12 inches underground. Then, machines separate potatoes from the dirt before being transported from the field to the packing facility.
